Vehicle frame construction



A. M. LEONI.

VEHICLE FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

' APPLICATION FILED III/III, I2. 1920.

LNI

Patented May 9, 1922.

vwaw You 4ATES Parr ALFONSO M. LEONI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, IO STEINMETZ ELECTRIC MOTOR CARCORPORATION, OI" :BALTI- MORE, MARYLAND, A CORFORATION OF MARYLAND.

VEHICLE FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

To all 'Lu/1,0m` t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFONSO M. LEONI, a citizen of the United Sta-tes,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle Frame Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a iframe construction for motor vehicles, andparticularly tractors, and is directed to' an, arrangement and form ofparts which will provide for the maximum strength and rigidity with theminimum oi weight.

The improved frame construction comprises a main frame member oi'hair-pin shape, with the rounded iear end conforming to and providing` asupport for a particular type of rear axle housing. T he forward ends oithe main frame member aie connected by a cross member, constructed toprovide for a three-point suspension support for the motor, means iforconnecting thereto any type of three point suspension axle, and meansfor the support of the usual radiator. An intermediate cross memberprovides for the connection thereto of the swivel head for the frontaxle radius rods, and also for the connection ot a rigid brace strapleading to the rear axle housing. The brace strap. provides a supportfor the usual draw-bar member.

The invention in the preferred-form oi details is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein y Fig. 1 is a plan viewof the improvedframe construction.

F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

F ig. 3 is a section through the frame in rear of the front crossmember.

The improved frame structure, as here shown, comprises a main :tramemember 1, of channel iron, and of hair pin shape in plan, with therounded or connected end at the rear. The side barsof the main tramemember extend forwardly from the rounded end in substantial parallelism,to thus pro` vide the side and rear structure of such framing.

The forward ends of the side bars of the main frame member are connectedby a cross-member 2, which is constructed to provide for the motorsup-port, the axle support,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application led March l2, 1920. Serial No. 365,282.

and the radiator support. This cross member 2 has end sections 3 tointertit with the main side bars, bearing against the inner sides of theupright web of such bars, and underlying and bearing against the lowerflange of such side bars. The cross member is riveted or otherwisesecured tothe side bars or' the main frame membervat the con! tactingportions, as at t, and has a straight length extending between the sidebars, which'is suitably formed at 5 for the support of a three-pointsuspension motor. Aprons or plates 6 depend from such cross member 2,and are disposed in spaced parallel relation to provide ior theconnection thereto of any usual type 'or' vthree point suspension axle.The respectiveends of the cross member 2 are integrally formed toprovide forwardly extending brackets 7, on which any usual type ofradiatormay be appropriately fastened and supported.

The side bars of the main :trame member are further connected, at apoint intermedi ate their lengths, by an intermediate cross bar 8, whichis preferably in strap form and bolted at the ends to the side bars.Preferably a brace plate is secured between the side bars and the endsof the intermediate cross bar, which brace plate, as 9, extends belowthe cross-bar connection with the side bars, and provides additionalholding and bracing surface for the cross bar.

The intermediate cross bar extends below the side bars, and centrally oisuch cross bar. which central portion is in a plane pare allel to theplane oi the main frame member, there isconnected a swivel head 10 forthe front axle radius rods 11. A rear brace strap 12 is also connectedat the forward end to the central portion of such intermediate crossbar, such strap 12 extending rearwardly and being terminally secured toor in the rear axle housing 13. The rear axle housing 13 conforms inplan to the rounded end oi the main frame member, and' is bolted to theflange ot such member through the necessary length of such rounded end.The rear axle housing is thus directly supported by the main framemember, and braced against displacement by such main frame member,through the intermediate cross bar and the strap 12. The brace strapbetween the intermediate cross member and rear axle housing provides aconvenient memberfor the connection thereto of the draw-bar memberthereto, as at 14C.

The improvedv frame construction thus provides a rigid unit, braced atpoi-nts wher'- such bracing members can be utilized as supports andconnectors, to thereby alord the maximum strength and rigidity with theNo unnecessary f weight minimum weight. is added., as the crossbars areprovided at the points of most effective bracing for'the main member andin turn utilized as supports. T he roundedrear end provides for theconnection of the rear axle housing thereto, without the necessity ofadditional weight, through the additional cross members usually requiredfor this purpose.

The front cross bar, not only serves as an effective brace at thispoint;y for the main member, but also can be adapted for the v enginesup-port, the front axle support, and

the radiator support.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is y l. Aframe construction for motor vehicles, comprising` a. main frame memberof hair pin shape withA the rounded end at the rear and providing adirect support for the rear aXle housing, a cross bar connecting theforward ends of the main trame member, said cross bar forming a motorsupport and having depending portions to provide an axle support.

2. A frame construction ior motor vehicles, comprising a main framemember of hair pin shape with the rounded end toward the rear, a crossbar at the forward end or 'such member and 'forming a i-i-'iotorsupport,

a forward axle support, and having projections to provide a radiatorsupport.

3. A frame construction for motor veliicles, comprising a channel-ironmain traine member of hair pin shape with the rounded end toward therear, a cross bar connecting the v'forward ends of the main frame memberand providing for the support of the motor, ti-ont axle, and radiator,and an intermediate cross bar for the mainmeniber, said intermediatecross member being adaptedfiior-the connection thereto of the radius-rodswivelhead for the front axle. v

4f. A rigid vehicle :trame construction, comprising a channel bar ofhair' pin shape .with

` the rounded ,end toward the rear, al cross bar secured to the forwardends of suoli main

